VW Golf 7 R

What Was the Inspection About?

This Caddy was listed as the perfect small-business van—1.9 TDI, decent mileage, fresh TÜV, and "no issues whatsoever." When we arrived, the body looked clean, and the engine ran like a charm. But the remote locking? Dead. The seller tried to downplay it with, “Just needs a new battery in the key.” But I tested it on-site, and it was clear: the issue wasn’t the key—it was the central locking module. A common weak point in older Caddys. The buyer liked the van, but wasn’t about to walk into mystery repairs. With the fault properly documented and explained, we managed to negotiate the price down by 600 €—enough to cover a full repair and then some.

My Thoughts on the Car

The VW Caddy 1.9 TDI is one of those vehicles that keeps going. The engine is nearly bombproof if maintained right, and the utility factor is hard to beat—whether you're hauling tools, bikes, or just furniture on the weekend. This one had all the basics right: solid drivetrain, clean shifting, no rust under the sills. Electrical gremlins like this are common, especially around door modules and control units, but they’re rarely a deal-breaker. With a quick trip to the auto electrician and some fresh coding, this Caddy was back to full function within a week.

Pricing

As always, the full inspection—including diagnostics, test drive, and negotiation support—was 90 €. That investment helped the buyer avoid guesswork and walk away with a better price and a clear to-do list. A reliable van, a fair deal, and no nasty surprises later. That’s how used car buying should work.